Mental health was once a taboo subject that assumed the worst about people — presumptions and crude labels were often slapped upon those brave enough to ask for help, and the rest of humanity suffered in silence. Depression? Never heard of her.
In 2019, however, it’s thankfully become more common for people to open up about mental health. It’s become much more acceptable to seek professional help from a therapist or psychiatrist, and going on medication like antidepressants or mood stabilizers isn’t as outlandish anymore. In return, certain celebrities in the limelight have gradually become unabashedly honest about their specific mental illness struggles. Here are five badass women, past and present, that have been open about their mental health hardships.
1. Carrie Fisher
For the world famous “Star Wars” actress best known for her cinnamon bun hairstyle, Carrie Fisher suffered from a constant battle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction. Prior to her death in 2016, Fisher was never ashamed to speak out about her emotional issues. She detailed her struggles in her books and often even made light of the situation, claiming that when she died, she wanted her ashes to be buried in a giant Prozac shaped urn. And yes, it happened.
2. Ariana Grande
As if we needed another reason to love and adore Ariana Grande, she is also real about her struggles with anxiety. Grande is well-known for being honest with her fans and, after facing multiple traumatic experiences including the Manchester bombing, she released songs like “get well soon,” “breathin,” and “no tears left to cry” — all of which are blatant responses to struggles with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. When a fan asked Grande what “get well soon” was about, she explained via Twitter that it’s about her anxiety. “i felt like i was floating for like 3 months last year & not in a nice way,” Grande said. Thank you, queen Ari, for always supplying such relatable music about mental illness.
3. Demi Lovato
Perhaps one of the more well-known spokespeople for mental health, Demi Lovato has very publicly grappled with bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and addiction. Lovato opened up about her mental illnesses after suffering from a nervous breakdown in 2010 and has since been brazenly honest about her ongoing issues. Most recently, Lovato has struggled with her sobriety, though her honesty has become a realistic illustration of what it’s actually like to battle such problems. No one wants to see Lovato in pain, but her openness is refreshing and helpful, especially to those that are in similar positions.
4. Hayley Williams
Originally known for being the frontwoman of Paramore, Hayley Williams spent much of her teenage years and early 20s on the road. Admittedly so, the years that she learned the most about herself were spent in the spotlight, with fans and interviewers alike pestering her with questions about breakups, growing up, feminism and more. Williams really began to speak out about her mental health when Paramore released their 2017 album “After Laughter,” which details her struggles with divorce, ending friendships, depression, anxiety, and growing up overall. She admitted to dealing with depression and seeking professional help for issues that she had previously ignored and even takes frequent breaks from social media as a form of self-care.
5. Chrissy Teigen
Besides being a gorgeous supermodel and a politically aware Trump-hater, Chrissy Teigen is also a mom of two. After giving birth to her daughter, Luna, Teigen revealed that she had struggled with postpartum depression. Despite having a loving partner and an exciting pregnancy, Teigen experienced harsh effects of depression and anxiety shortly after bringing her daughter into the world. She explained that she rarely had an appetite, was constantly in physical pain and found difficulty in doing simple things, like leaving the house. Shortly after being formally diagnosed with postpartum and anxiety, Teigen went on antidepressants and started sharing the news with her loved ones.
Regardless of where you stand on the mental health spectrum — whether you deal with a mental illness that requires you to take medication, or you’re just simply in need of a deep breath and some self-care — it’s always important to know that you’re never alone. Remember to take care of yourself, mentally and physically, and that everyone has bad days.